Compare a lawyer online (From Bury Times)

Compare a lawyer online

10:30am Thursday 22nd July 2010

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A BURY law graduate is courting success by launching an online solicitor comparison website.

Tom Dunlop’s www.CompareLegalSolutions.com claims to be the only one of its kind that instantly compares solicitors across 80 different areas of law.

The website is free to use and allows individuals and businesses to compare solicitors by distance, quality and price by completing a few short questions about their case.

The “results section” ranks law firms by distance from their postcode, quality ratings, previous case studies and fees (by hourly rates or fixed fees). It also confirms whether a free first interview is offered.

Founder and managing director Mr Dunlop, aged 22, has only recently completed both an LLB law degree and the legal practice course. He now manages a board of directors consisting of a QC barrister, a former senior clerk to the Inner Temple of London and experts in both the IT and finance arenas.

The concept for the website was hatched more than two years when he was studying law at university, trying to secure a training contract. He said: “Numerous applications asked me to rate which factors I would advertise to consumers, including price and quality of service.

“This developed the concept of comparing firms by all necessary variables so an informed decision can be made.

“The site aims to answer the three important questions when considering legal advice. How much will it cost, how far do I have to travel and will the advice be good?

“Ours is a unique band which delivers rational, useful results which differentiates it from many other websites out there which profess they will find the consumer the best solicitor for their case. But they do not allow the consumer to choose which solicitor they are put in contact with.”

Mr Dunlop continued: “The introduction of household brands such as Tesco and the AA into the legal market will make access to legal services a lot easier and the market more price-conscious.

“We do not believe the legal profession should be treated purely as a commodity, but we do believe customers should have a more informed choice when finding the right solicitor for their legal problem.”

Compare Legal Solutions Ltd, based at Mossfield house in Chesham Fold Road, has more than 50 firms already signed up and in excess of 100 in the process of updating their profiles

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